The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-09-01
Worship in Tents.

Worship in Tents.
The sudden and almost wholly uneX-
pected appearance of two evangelists from
the Old World in our midst has quite nat
urally created no little wonder in our town
as to the aims and objects of their mission.
Their names are James Campbell, a native
of Scotland, aged 46, and formerly OF the
Presbyterian church. and William Mat
thews, born in the North of Ireland, aged
35, and once connected with the Episcopal
church. Both of these gentlemen are I'M
married and were raised under religious
influence and parentage; but it was only
after years of church membership when
aroused to more quickening sense OF
their own utter undone condition that
they experienced that change of heart and
life, called in the New Testament the
New Birth, and they at once resolved to
spend and be spent if God should so will,
in the service of their Divine Master
After preaching a while in the North OF
Ireland, they concluded to embark for
America. They came over il November
last. Since which time success has crown
ed their efforts, and in most places they
had the satisfaction of seeing sinners hap
PLY converted 10 God
Mr.. Campbell is now in his fourth visit
to this country, and Canada, but up to this
time, did not come South. They believe
that the Lord s work ought to be supported
by the Lords people. They have up to
the present time not only plenty, but an
abundance Of means for their continuance
in the work. The master they serve is
both good and rich. They ask for no col
lections, and their seats are always free to
everybody. They carry with them tent
and seats to accommodate about 200 per-
sons. At night four huge jets throw a
flood of light throughout the tent.
Their first service was held on Sunday
afternoon before very good audience.
Their second meeting took place the same
evening at quarter to o'clock, and the
audience was larger than the previous one.
Selecting and reading the well known
record found in John, of the fallen women
of Samaria saved at Jacobs well, Mr..
Campbell made plain but forcible appli.
cation of 1t to every one in the tent.
whether saved or unsaved.
Again, on Monday night, they preached
to crowded tent. Services are announced
for every night except Saturday. Their
sermons are short and pointed, and may
be considered more as appeals to the hearts
and conscences of their fellow men, than
as learned dispositions upon Holy Writ.
They declare that they know Through
the witness of the Holy Spirit) that they
are saved notwithstanding the fact that
| they are yet in the flesh and subject to all
the infirmites of it. But through faith
in the finished work of the atonement, they
claim their title clear to home in tho bet
ter land.
They moreover proclaim that there is
in the old as well as in the new world far
reaching and growing sentiment among
God Is people generally, to sink down and
break over all sectarianism and denomina-
i tionalism and come together more closely
as perfect undivided Christian body.
The German Baptist emily.
The suggestion made in the VIRGINIAN
of last week that an invitation be extended
by the citizens and city council of Staun-
ton to the committee empowered 10 select
the place fer holding the Annual Assem-
bly, of the German Baptist Tor Tunker) de-
nomination, to convene in June, 1889, for it
| to meet in Staunton, has met with an earn
est and cordial response from our people.
An invitation was instantly drawn up and Is
being signed by our citizens of city and
county, of every calling and persuasion
Every one considers it movement of much
interest, as it will bring an immense con-
course of the best people Of the United
States 10 the county, and have most sal
utary effect in every way. 1t should be
the pleasure of every public spirited man
| to add his effort to those already engaged
| in making the invitation as broad and i'm
pressive as possible, so that the committee
will have no room to doubt the spirit in
which it is extended and the hearty well
come the Assembly will meet.
Death of Father Thos Stack.
A telegram was received by Capt. j. j.
Stack, of this place. on Monday evening,
from Boston College, Boston, informing
him that his son, Father Thos. Stack, was
dangerously i'll. On Tuesday evening an
other dispatch arrived, announcing his
death at O'Clock on that day. Inquiry by
telegraph could not elicit the particulars
of the sickness OF death. Capt. j. Stack,
Jr, left on the Tuesday night express for
Boston, to be present at the burial cere-
monies over his brother tomorrow Fri
day.
Father Stack had not long since been in
Florida, in connection with his religious
duties, he being one of the Jesuit order
He was called to Boston to accept the pO-
sition of President of Boston College, in
the discharge Of the duties of which he was
suddenly stricken down in the meridian OF
his manhood and usefulness. 1t is a sad
blow to his family, for whom the sympa-
thies of the community are sincerely ten
dered.